The ex-Ireland Under-21 international admitted he was on the verge of signing for the Candystripes — whose boss Kenny Shiels has predicted that he will be the best left-back in the league —
but that some conversations with Damien Duff helped to change his mind.

The pair were at Fulham together, although Kavanagh’s first-team breakthrough came after Duff had left for Melbourne City.

Kavanagh added: “It looked like that at one stage, then Rovers came calling and it is tough to say no to a club like this.

“I’m from Dublin and it’s probably the biggest club in the country so it was a no-brainer in the end.

“I spoke to Duffer a couple of times and he recommended it. I’ve known him a couple of years and I trust his opinion.

“He just said that it would be a good club to come to as I was a local boy and that should come into consideration when I make my decision.”

Derry boss Kenny Shiels feels Kavanagh will become the best left back in the league

Kavanagh played alongside Luke Byrne and Brandon Miele for Ireland at underage level and was at Belvedere at the same time as Graham Burke.

His breakthrough at Craven Cottage came in the 2014-15 season when — despite being sidelined by, first, a thigh and, then, a knee injury — he clocked up 23 appearances, scoring once.

That progress saw then-boss Kit Symons hand him a 3½ -year deal in January 2015 but Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley revealed the player has taken a financial hit to try to kickstart his career.

Bradley said: “He signed a deal, a new manager comes in and things change, he was disappointed with that but he’s positive in terms of he just wants to come and play.

“I could tell you the financial aspect is unbelievable, what he has left behind. That tells you what he’s about. He could have sat there for another six months.” Kavanagh’s fortunes at Fulham nosedived under Slavisa Jokanovic.

Since his appointment in December 2015, he made just two first-team appearances but did clock up more experience in League Two during loan spells with Mansfield Town and Hartlepool United.

Kavanagh shrugged: “That’s football, really. I was doing well at one stage. I was playing at a decent level, getting some good experience and game exposure

“Then I couldn’t get near the team or being on the bench. You get ups and downs but I’m just looking forward to getting going here.

“Anyone that I’ve spoken to who came home has spoken highly about it. I think the football here will suit me rather than trying to hang around the lower leagues in England, but we’ll see how it goes.

“The last couple of years were difficult and I was looking to get home here where I’m happy around my family and stuff like that. I’ll just look to get back playing football and enjoy myself.”